Floaters in my oil...

[gromit]

I've owned my Series 1 for a few years now.
It's unrestored and on full rego, made it to Cooma and back, doesn't smoke or use oil, starts OK but the oil pressure light is a bit slow going off when it starts.

Now I could have taken the easy route and changed the switch first but I'm a glutton for punishment so I dropped the sump today. I've never done this since buying it and the engine history is unknown so I saw it as a bit of a 'health check'.

Bled the brakes first, with the help of my 10 year old son, because the fluid is getting on a bit, then got stuck into the sump removal.
Drained off the oil, then removed the sump.
There was nothing in the oil I drained but floating on the bit of oil left in the sump were tiny bits of cork. Seems like either a cork composite gasket is breaking down or someone has left a bit of gasket in the motor in the past. The oil pump pickup filter was about 10% clogged with pieces of cork, I don't think this was enough to make the pressure switch sluggish but I'm glad I investigated.
As I scrubbed out the debris that builds up in the bottom of the sump there was a lot of aluminium paste but I'm not sure whether it's from the pistons fitted or whether the engine has been rebuilt in the past.
Fitted new sump gasket & rubber seal for the rear, new oil filter, filled her up and she runs the same as before.....

Next the switch !

Colin

[wrinklearthur]

Fitted new sump gasket & rubber seal for the rear, new oil filter, filled her up and she runs the same as before.....
Next the switch ! Colin

A couple of things I would have done, fitted a oil pressure gauge and noted the difference between oil pressure at idle when cold and then hot.

If the oil pressure is dropping off too quick, then a set of bearings would be the way to go.

If the oil pressure is coming up too slow, then the oil pump and pickup needs to be looked at.

I have heard of some dismal results, when people have added EP90 diff oil into the engine, the Aluminium oxide does some nasty things to the moving parts.
.

[gromit]

Arthur,

I would have checked oil pressure if I had a gauge handy. I'll have to 'borrow' a gauge from work and make up a suitable connector when I get time.


Colin